Food bank network sees surge in hungry Britons

LONDON (AP) — A U.K. food bank network says the number of hungry Britons repeatedly coming in for meals has more than doubled over the past year, a surge it blames on a bad economy and welfare reforms.

The Trussell Trust says nearly 350,000 people have received at least three days' emergency food over the past 12 months, a 170 percent increase over the previous year.

The Salisbury, England-based trust — which currently counts 345 food banks — said Thursday it had expanded its network by 76 percent over the same period but that demand is still outstripping supply.

The growing number of hungry Britons is still minuscule by U.S. standards, where some 45 million people receive food stamps to help them get enough to eat.